Manusl / Circuit Diagrams for Nautech Autohelm

[Yachtmister]

I have become the owner of an elderly Nautech Authelm (model number not known.)

I would like to identify the device the put it to work. It appears to be well maintained.

This is the format which comprises an arm mounted between coaming and tiller and a cylindrical gimballed fluxgate compass.

Any help and guidance would be welcome.

Thanks

 

[philip_stevens]

This is a very old Autohelm 1000. I say Autohelm as I had one the same on a previous boat.

Nautech was taken over by Autohelm who are now Raymarine - Portsmouth.

Raymarine Ltd / Raytheon Marine Europe
Quay Point
Northarbour Road
Portsmouth
PO6 3TD(Road Map)
Hampshire
Tel: 023 9269 3611
Fax: 023 235 1994
Internet: www.raymarine.com

Director - Stuart Thompson
Marketing Manager - Vanessa Lowe

It would be worth contacting them, and making sure you talk to someone in the UK who knows about "Autohelms" - otherwise you get shunted to the USA!!

Send me a PM if you want to know any more about it. I may be able to help you.

 

[qetoo]

You can download the Autohelm Manuals at:

http://www.raymarine.com/raymarine/Default.asp?site=1&Section=3&Page=657&Parent=166

 

[Yachtmister]

Philip

Thanks for the response and the contact points.

What was your experience when using the device?
Clearly it is an aged piece of kit with 1960s wiring techniques, but I am intrigued to see what its performance is.

I will chase up the contacts and return!

Regards

Tony

 

[Yachtmister]

Hi Seattle

Nice boat!

Thanks for your interest and the web address.

Regards

Tony

 

[philip_stevens]

It served me well for quite a few years before an owner of a steel boat requested that I swop it for his more modern AH2000 that would not work properly as the flux gate compass was in the actual drive unit. The older 1000 had its compass remote, and he was able to find a good place to situate it.

The older unit took me from Falmouth across to the Channel Island a few times, so I know it can be relied on - once in thick fog in Decca days.

From faded memory, I think there is a switch under the main compass unit that can be changed for different sea states.

If the ram unit is fitted to the starboard side, it operates as normal. If it has to be fitted to the port side, pull off the control knob, rotate it 180 degrees and replace.

(This also goes for a later model with a control knob on the actuator ram unit.)

Somewhere in the attic is a spare mounting bracket - somewhere.

 

[hightech]

Re: Manual / Circuit Diagrams for Nautech Autohelm

Hi,

Push buttons or turn the knob compass on top?

Compass rose units predates the pushbutton units

I was started at the original Nautech company and beyond for many years and have worked on all models up until a few years ago.

So ask away. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Hightech

 

[Yachtmister]

Re: Manual / Circuit Diagrams for Nautech Autohelm

It has a compass rose on top.

I hae located manuals for the pushbutton units (including the 800) ut I have yet to discover written which looks like my unit.

It would be particularly useful to obtain some circuit diagrams as there is a fault on the equipment - specificallt that the 'manual jog' lever on the top of the remote cylindrical unit will only cause the arm to extend, not to retract.

There was already an oter mounting point fitted on the combing and after measuring the maximum extenxion of the arm I see I will have to fabricate or obtain one of the extension inserts that were sold. Any ideas as to the thread?

Regards

Tony

 

[hightech]

Re: Manual / Circuit Diagrams for Nautech Autohelm

The unit in question is an Autohelm 2000, it is what was refered to as an analog model.

If you get a screwdriver under the central label there is a scrw which will release the dial, then another two crews underneath. The compass is trapped between the upper circuit bpard and top case so will fall out when you open up.

The jog switches used to just stop working, they are micro switches and can be bought from the usual sources. If you power the unit up and the short the contacts with ascrewdriver i should drive one way and the other switch the other, this will prove if the switch is definitely duff. If shorting the switch does not work then there are a number of IC on the upper pcb that control the compass and the jog control.

Does it go both ways on the compass??

If you need to dig deeper into the unit, the centre of the on/off wheel picks out and the clamp holding the wheel on can be released, then the pcb pushed up using the wires. Failure to undo the switch will destroy the switch.

The mounting rods are still the same ones raymarine sell today, so just buy another.

Hightech

 

[Yachtmister]

Re: Manual / Circuit Diagrams for Nautech Autohelm

Hi Hitech

Thanks again for the interest and answers.

The compass drives only in the same direction as the jog buttons. I have used a test meter to check the continuity across the switch contacts (with the upper board removed) and find that both micro switches are working OK. The little plastic control s a bit iffy... but can toggle the switch.

The green LED does not light whe jogged or when the compass is rotated. I see there is an LM324 quad op amp IC. Is this used as a comparator? Does it drive the LED directly?

It appears that the fault must be at some point common to drive to the ram motor and the LED. Where would this be?

Thanks for the tip concerning the extension rod - I will chase that up. Does the jack socket need to be released in order to remove the lower board?

 

[Yachtmister]

Re: Manual / Circuit Diagrams for Nautech Autohelm

Hi

I have discovered a short length of wire which appears to have become detached from the switches. Is there some way I can send you a photo of the wiring to get you to check it? (I am new to this forum and am unsure what facilties there are.)

 

[hightech]

Re: Manual / Circuit Diagrams for Nautech Autohelm

Hi,

There should be a short link wire between the two switches and if I remember correctly four wires from the other contacts down to the pcb. The LED are in series with the drive electronics, so when a command gets issued it passes thru the LED to the drive transistors, the LED's do fail, so try shorting out the one that does no light as it may be open circuit and preventing operation. Is the compass operational for 180 degrees only?

Part of an LM324 act as a pair of comparators for each channel using a normal resistor chain for the detection voltages.

The ack socket does not need to be released to get the lower pcb out, just the main switch.

They are pretty basic systems, but have some quirks to make them slightly more sophisticated.

You can pm a photo to me.

Hightech

 

[Yachtmister]

Re: Manual / Circuit Diagrams for Nautech Autohelm

Hi

Thanks to your answers, I have moved from trying to get life out of the kit to sea trials.
Over the weekend I motored from Cowes to Fishbourne and sailed back, using the autohelm most of the time.

I described a few circles on the way - hence there is a whole raft of questions to ask...

I haven't been able to locate a manual for the AH2000 analogue. Could you outline the purpose of these switches:
1. Rotary control on the base labelled "OFF SET 1 2 3".
2. Small rotary control on the base labelled "rudder" and "0-9".

Must I mount the compass unit with the gimbal bow side of the unit to get correct operation? It might be more convenient to mount it at the rear of the cockpit to avoid trailing wires.

What servicing is necessary for the ram unit?

Stay clear of small red yachts in the Solent for the next few weeks!

L_20

 

[philip_stevens]

Re: Manual / Circuit Diagrams for Nautech Autohelm

1 - this is the switch to set up the ram to start with. Turn to set, turn the compass knob to the heading you want, and then turn the switch to either 1,2,or 3 depending on weather state. I think 1 is for calm up to 3 for very rough conditions.

2 - this knob is to set up your rudder response - i.e. the amount of understeer or oversteer to come back on the new course.

If you go to the Raymarine site and find the manual for the newer AH1000 or 2000 (not the ST1000/2000), go to the page that shows the setting of the rudder response. It will be similar for your older analogue unit.

If you want to mount the compass unit astern of the ram, it will be "looking" the wrong way - 180 degrees out. To reset it, prise off the compass knob, and refit it 180 out i.e. note where the north on the knob is, and replace it facing the opposite way. Note that it should be allowed to swing freely when heeled.

 

[Yachtmister]

Hi

I can't seem to get much variation in operation from the unit in response to changing between 1 - 2 - 3 on the lower dial to reflect sea states. I assume that the unit will pulse more slowly in heavy seas (to allow for natural swinging either side of the course due to wave action.)

If you come across that bracket to mount the compass I would be very interested in coming to some agreement to purchase.

 

[philip_stevens]

You will only notice some difference in correction with the 1,2,3, switch if you try it in rough seas. You will notice that it will correct more on 1 than on 3.

I will look for the bracket up in the attic this evening. I think I know where it is.

 

[philip_stevens]

Tony,
I have found "a" bracket, that I think is the one you want. Has your Autohelm compass unit go a slightly-angled slotted gimbal bracket on it?

If so, send me a PM with your address, and I'll send you a jpg piccy of it to comfirm.

 

[Yachtmister]

Re: Manual / Circuit Diagrams for Nautech Autohelm

Hi All

How should I operate the controls of this unit when going through a tack?

Is it acceptable to enter the new heading on the compass control (say a 100 degs step change).

Is it necessary to settle on the new heading by manually tacking then go through the same setup procedure as when you first switch on?

 

[philip_stevens]

Re: Manual / Circuit Diagrams for Nautech Autohelm

[ QUOTE ]

Is it acceptable to enter the new heading on the compass control (say a 100 degs step change).

[/ QUOTE ]

No reason not to. It will push your tiller to set the boat on the new course, just like a more modern autopilot.

I used to do the same when I had an old AH1000 with the remote compass unit with the rotary knob on top.

 

[Paulonboard]

Wiring problem

Hi there Hi tech,
Just reading your post and wondered if i could ask you a question.
I too have one of these 2000 analogue tiller pilots that has been faultless for years. Sadly the other weekend a member of crew managed to stand on the wiring and pull them out of the compass unit. I am struggling to find out where they go back in.
Two of them are for the ram and another two have come out of the little four pin plug on the PCB.
I guess if i get the ram wires the wrong way round then it will just try and steer the wrong way, but the others i want to get right incase damage is caused during power up?
Any help would be really appreciated.
Regards